Bracket mounting for tables and the like



y 5, 1962. M. SUBEN 3,034,757

BRACKET MOUNTING FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 23. 1959 INVENTOR. MORTEN 5uBE/v HTTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,757 BRACKET MOUNTING FOR TABLES AND THE LIKE Morten Suben, 465 E. Lincoln Ave., Mount Vernon, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Max Caplan, East Hilis, N.Y. Filed Dec. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 861,474 8 Claims. (Cl. 248-235) This invention relates to bracket devices for mounting tables, shelves or the like in connection with predetermined supports to arrange the table or the like in horizontal position or at right angles to the support when in operative position and substantially paralleling the support when in inoperative position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing spaced bracket arranged on a support, with the intermediate and lower portion broken away, illustrating, in part, upper corner portions of a table in its inoperative or hanging position, one of the brackets being shown in section, the section being substantially on the broken line 1-1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the brackets detached.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1 showing part of a table in operative position in full lines and in the hanging position of FIG. 1 in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, omitting the spacing strip and support and showing the use of one of the adaptor elements which may be employed; and

FIG. 5 is a detail edge view of another form of adaptor 3 element which I employ.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, represents a wall or other support, in connection with which my improved bracket devices are attached. In FIG. 1 of the drawing,

11 represents a righthand bracket, 11' represents a left- 4 hand bracket, both brackets being of the same construction, except that they are rights and lefts and, from this standpoint, the brief description of one bracket will apply to both brackets and reference characters will be primed on the lefthand bracket.

Each of the brackets are preferably formed as cast or molded devices and can be molded from metal, plastic or similar materials and, in the present illustration and in order to simplify sectioning, the brackets have been illustrated as formed from metal. Each bracket comprises a body portion 12, 12 having upper and lower channels 13, 13'; 14, 14' which opens through adjacent sides and outer ends of the brackets.

The channels are divided by what I term a lower supporting member 15, 15', the body portion 12, 12 including an enlarged flange 16, 16 bordering the member 15, 15'. The flange 16, 16' extends around the periphery of each of the channels 13, 13'; 14, 14', as will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 3 of the drawing. The purpose of these flanges is to definitely position the table, shelf or like article 17 between the spaced brackets 11, 11, sufficient clearance being provided for free movement of the article 17 from the lowered inoperative position of FIG. 1 to the raised operative position shown in section in FIG. 3.

It will clearly appear, from a consideration of FIG. 3 of the drawing, that the channels 13, 13'; 14, 1d are closed by outer wall portions 18, 18' which conceal projecting hanger pins 19 at sides of the article 17. Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the bottom Wall of the channel 14 tapers downwardly, as seen at 2%), so as to retain the pins 19 against accidental displacement from the brackets when the article 17 is in its hanging position. The upper surface of each of the members 15, 15' tapers downwardly and inwardly and, in FIG. 3 of the drawing, this tapered surface is indicated at 21. This forms at the outer portion of the member 15 a raised article supporting or bearing portion 22, as again noted in FIG. 3 of the drawing. It will be understood that the member 15' is of similar construction.

Arranged above the member 15, 15' i an upper article supporting member 23, 23'. Here again, the lower surface of the member 23, 23' is tapered downwardly and inwardly to form at the inner end of the member an article supporting or bearing portion noted at 24 in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the member 23' being of similar construction and the supporting portion being noted at 24 in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The lower surface of the member 23, 23 has an undercut or dovetail groove and the groove of the member 23 is indicated at 25 in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The body portion 12, 12 of the brackets includes upper and lower projecting apertured mounting flanges 26, 26 27, 27'. It will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing, that the upper flanges 26, 26 extend the major portion of the width of the member 23, 23', this member being substantially of the same width as the member 15, 15', so that the bearing or article engaging portions 22, 24 become relatively wide in forming a strong and sturdy support for maintaining the article 17 in horizontal position. Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the upper corner portion of the article engages the bearing 24 of the member 23; whereas, the lower surface of the article widely spaced from the bearing 24 rests upon the bearing 22 with the pins 19 disposed freely within the channels 13, 13'.

It will appear from a consideration of FIG. 3 of the drawing that the flanges 16, 16' extend around exposed edges of the member 15, 15' and also encircle the channels 13, 13'; 14, 14, thus at all times, maintaining a definite positioning of the article 17 within and between the brackets. It will be understood that the article 17 can be guided by the flanges 16, 16' from the raised position of FIG. 3 to the lowered position indicated in dot and dash lines. On the other hand, the article can, if desired, be detached from the brackets either through the open end of the channel 13, 13 or the channel 14-, 14,

In the construction of the brackets, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I have made the same of a size to adapt the brackets for use in connection with different thicknesses of articles, such as table or shelves, the brackets being made to initially accommodate the thicker article, as at 17; whereas, in FIG. 4 of the drawing, I have indicated at 17 an article which is half the thickness of the article 17. To mount 17 in the brackets, as for example the bracket 11, I simply employ an adaptor element 28 for each of the pair of brackets employed, the element simply filling part of the space between the lower member 15 and the upper member 23, the element having a projecting tongue 29 fitting in the groove 25 of the member 23.

It will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing, that the groove 25 extends the full depth of the protruding portion of the member 23 and, accordingly, the element 28 will extend this full depth to provide a supporting and bearing portion 3d thereon, similar to the portion 24, '24 of the initial brackets. In other words, the lower surface 31 of the element 28 parallels the inclined surface of the member 23. The article 17 also engages the bearing portion 22 of the bracket, the same as the article 17 in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing, 1 have shown at 32 another adaptor element, including a dovetail key 33 to fit the groove 25 and the element 32 is half the thickness of the element 28 and, when used in the bracket 23, would accommodate an article thicker than the article 17', but still thinner than the article 17. In other words, by

selling with the two brackets two pairs of adaptor elements, such as 28 and 32, the brackets can be utilized for supporting articles of three different thicknesses. To illustrate, it is customary to produce table and shelf strips or board forming what I term articles, as at 17, 17', in half, three-eighths and one-quarter inch thicknesses. In this way, the brackets, including the elements, alone can be sold and the purchaser can then utilize the brackets with the pairs of elements included in the package for mounting articles of the thickness which he would desire or require in any particular use. It will also be understood that the merchandised package will in this respect include at least one pair, or preferably two pairs, of pins 19, enabling the purchaser to attach the same to articles which he intends to employ.

In some instances, it is desirable to use in conjunction with the brackets a spacer strip 34, the end portions of which will be apertured to receive the screws or other fastening devices 35 for attaching the brackets to the support 10. By pre-forming the apertures in the strip 34, a definite and controlled spacing between the brackets and positioning of the brackets is maintained; thus, simplifying the mounting of the brackets in connection with a support, particularly if it is necessary to pre-drill holes in the support for reception of the devices 35. In this latter instance, the strip 34 can be used as a template for marking the holes to be drilled in the support.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Serial Number 780,348, filed December 15, 1958, issued in Patent Number 2,967,077, dated January 3, 1961.

It will be understood that the shelf or table generally referred to as the article can be of different lengths and widths, the length controlling the spacing between the brackets and, in all cases, the article can be removed from the brackets and utilized as a tray. It will also be apparent that the space between the members 15, 23; 23 opens through at least two surfaces of the brackets; thus facilitating the attachment and detachment of the article and also enabling the inner end of the article to be brought into engagement with the support or the strip 34 mounted on the support, as is indicated in FIG, 3 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article supporting bracket structure of the character described, comprising a pair of generally similar righthand and lefthand brackets, each bracket comprising a molded body having spaced upper and lower article supporting members projecting equal distances from a side surface of the bracket, each bracket having channels above and below the lower members opening through said side surface and outer end of the bracket and extending the major portion of the length of said lower members, the outer portion of the lower member having on its upper surface a bearing portion adapted to be engaged by an article in support of the article in extended horizontal position with respect to the bracket, the upper member having at the inner portion of the lower surface thereof a bearing portion engaging the upper surface of the article when supported in said horizontal position in the bracket, and said article having projecting pivot means at opposed side edges thereof operating in the channels of said brackets.

2. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the lower member of each bracket and the lower surface of the upper member of each bracket are inclined inwardly and downwardly.

3. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower channel includes a downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom wall for retaining the pivot means of the article against accidental displacement from the brackets.

4. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1, wherein an adaptor element is employed for mounting on and covering the entire inner surface of said upper member, and interengaging key means between the upper member and said element for retaining the element against displacement from said upper member.

5. A bracket structure as defined in claim 1, wherein each bracket includes means detachable with one of said members and completely covering the surface thereof for varying spacing between adjacent surfaces of said members in adapting the brackets for support of articles of different thicknesses.

6. In bracket structures of the class described, each bracket comprising a molded body having means for reception of fastener devices in attachment of the bracket to a support, the bracket having spaced supporting members projecting from one side surface thereof, adjacent surfaces of said supporting members being inclined downwardly and inwardly and having spaced bearing portions, said bracket having channels above and below the lower member and extending the major portion of the length of said lower member, and the space between adjacent surfaces of said members and said channels opening through the outer end and said side surface of the bracket.

7. A bracket structure as defined in claim 6, wherein the lower channel includes a downwardly and inwardly inclined bottom wall.

8. A bracket structure as defined in claim 6, wherein an element is employed for arrangement in the space between adjacent surfaces of said supporting members, said element completely covering the surface of one member, and means for retaining the element against displacement from said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,932 McKenzie Nov. 19, 1895 1,111,199 Wallace Sept. 22, 1914 1,890,289 Harrison Dec. 6, 1932 2,115,274 McCabe Apr. 26, 1938 2,492,701 Kirk Dec. 27, 1949 2,967,077 Suben Jan. 3, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,866 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1939 

